American Yoga Council Code of Conduct

v1.0, last updated 18 September 2025

Preamble

A Code of Conduct is a difficult document to write. In theory, it sets out your responsibilities as members in good standing, and what we, as a community, expect of each other.

In practice, it’s easy for a Code of Conduct to be so generic it is of little use, and for there to be next-to-no consequences for violating it. So we’re taking a different approach, with a few specific aims in mind:

  • We want the Code of Conduct to be more adaptable to your own ethics as a teacher or school in good standing.
  • We want the public to easily be able to see a School's code in order to hold them accountable to it.
  • We want our Code of Conduct to reflect our values as an organization.
  • And we want this Code of Conduct to be a key tool in holding ourselves to account as a community.

We expect this document to evolve, with your help, and we’re excited to figure out together what real accountability might look like in yoga teaching.

The American Yoga Council Code of Conduct

1. Follow the Law

This sounds obvious, but it's also the most enforceable clause to have in a Code of Conduct. We expect AYC members to teach in accordance with all appropriate legislation in your jurisdiction when teaching yoga. We’re not going to police your practice, but if your behaviour towards your students and colleagues violates civil or criminal law, we will recommend and support legal action. Unethical behaviour of a legal nature could result in expulsion from AYC.

  • I will teach in accordance with all appropriate legislation in my jurisdiction.

2. Uphold AYC Core Values

Secondly, to be a member in good standing, we expect you to teach in accordance with the following values, which reflect the core values of AYC as an organization.

  • Following the core value of Generosity, I will share my teachings in the spirit of collaboration rather than competition, and conduct my financial dealings fairly with others.
  • Following the core value of Transparency, I will represent my yoga education, background, and the content of my teaching honestly and accurately.
  • Following the core value of Right Livelihood, I will teach to the scope of practice of my training and experience.
  • Following the core value of Embodied Relationships, I will teach with respect for the value of ethical human to human connections.

3. Creating a Personal Code

Lastly, to be an effective and ethical yoga teacher, we believe it is vital to have considered your own personal code of conduct. You might reflect on Patanjali’s yamas and niyamas, on the five Buddhist Precepts for right living, on the lay Jain code, or on any other philosophical sources. We would like you to describe that code of conduct in your own words.

  • In accordance with my own practice and understanding of yogic philosophy, I commit to teach and live by the personal code of conduct written below.

Yoga Home Code of Conduct

Additionally, this school has established a specific code of conduct that must be upheld:

Purpose Statement
We have adopted our Code of Conduct which applies to all our teachers. We believe that it is the responsibility of our teachers to ensure a safe and protected environment in which a student can grow physically, mentally, and spiritually. We believe our teachers must aspire to and express the highest possible standards of conduct as set forth in our Code of Conduct. Our Code of Conduct embodies the yamas and niyamas of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali which are rules of ethical conduct that apply to all practitioners of yoga.

Financial Practices
Teachers will be honest, straightforward, fair, and conscientious in conducting all of their business affairs. Teachers will manage their business affairs according to recognized standard business and accounting practices. Teachers will discuss all fees and financial arrangements in a straightforward professional manner.
Studio Ownership believes in fair and appropriate compensation for teachers. Upon signing to become a teacher, there will be an agreed upon rate for studio classes. Other opportunities (off-site classes, workshops, retreats, trainings) will have an agreed upon rate prior to program being scheduled.

Professional Growth/Continuing Education
Teachers shall maintain and improve their professional knowledge and competence, strive for professional excellence through regular assessment of their personal and professional strengths and weaknesses, and through continued education and training. Teachers shall stay current with new developments in yoga through practice and study. Teachers must have a consistent personal practice.

Teacher-Student Relationships
Teachers shall treat their students with respect and with regards to their individuality, dignity, and privacy. Teachers shall commit to promoting the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of their students. Teachers shall cause no harm to their students, shall commit to practicing ahimsa, and strive to alleviate the suffering of all beings.
Teachers shall create and maintain a safe, clean, comfortable, and positive environment for the practice of yoga.
The relationship between a yoga teacher and a student is based on trust. To establish and maintain that trust, the teacher must be polite, considerate, and honest with their students. Teachers should practice good communication with their students. Teachers should listen attentively to students, respect their point of view, beliefs and culture, and should not allow their beliefs and values to adversely influence their relationship with their students.

Integrity
Teachers shall commit to the highest standards of professional and personal conduct. Teachers shall ensure that their behavior does not give even the appearance of professional impropriety. Any actions which may benefit the teacher to the detriment of the yoga community, or an individual student must be avoided to not erode the public trust in the integrity of yoga. Teachers shall dedicate themselves to studying, teaching, and promoting the art, science and philosophy of yoga and to maintaining high standards of professional competence and integrity.

Scope of Practice
Our studio, and our teachers, will not engage in the unauthorized practice of medicine. We will not recommend treatment, diagnose a condition, or suggest that a student should disregard a physician’s advice. We will refer our students to medical doctors or complimentary licensed professionals when appropriate.

Confidential Information
Our studio will maintain the confidentiality of all private information disclosed by our teachers, students and clients. We will maintain commercially reasonable policies and procedures to protect the confidentiality of all private information disclosed by our teachers, students, and clients.
Teachers shall keep all personal information disclosed by their students strictly confidential.

Inter-Professional Relationships
Teachers are part of the well-being community and should strive to develop and maintain relationships within the community for the benefit of their students and their own professional development. Teachers shall practice tolerance toward other teachers, schools, and traditions. Teachers shall not undermine a student’s trust in teachings they have received from other traditions, schools or teachers by criticizing such teachings without reasonable cause. If a teacher hears such criticism being made by students or colleagues, he or she must act with the utmost discretion and professionalism in voicing their view on the matter.

Advertising and Public Communications
Our studio, and our teachers, will not make false, deceptive, or fraudulent statements or advertisements concerning: (i) the training, experience, or competence of our teachers; (ii) the academic degrees or credentials of our teachers; (iii) their institutional or association affiliations; (iv) their services, including classes, workshops, and teacher trainings; (v) the scientific or clinical basis for or results or degree of success of, their services; (vi) their fees; (vii) unusual or unique abilities of our teachers, including statements involving sensationalism or exaggeration; or (viii) an intent to exploit a student’s fears, anxieties or emotions, or to create unjustified claims of results.
Yoga Equity
Our studio will not discriminate against or refuse to provide teaching or professional help to any student, client or employee based on any protected class such as age, gender (including pregnancy), race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic status or genetic information. We will not discriminate in the workplace.

Teachers will welcome, accept, and support all students regardless of religion, gender, sexual orientation, language, nationality, political, or cultural background. Teachers will embrace yoga equity. Teachers shall seek to have an awareness and a commitment to making yoga more equitable, inclusive, accessible and diverse. This encompasses diversity, inclusion and accessibility in yoga. Teachers will make the conscious decision to address each of these issues thoughtfully and intentionally throughout their work in restoring equity to the yoga community. Teachers will emphasize the importance of learning, teaching, and practicing yoga honestly, which means promoting equity, reducing harm, honoring and leveraging cultural differences, and fostering diversity and inclusion in all areas of yoga while honoring the integrity of yoga’s cultural and historical roots.